Crystal Freake of Grand Falls Windsor Newfoundland became Miss Teen Canada International 2000 in the summer of 1999 in Toronto, Ontario. She was sixteen years old at the time and was attending Explotis Valley High School where she ranked fourth in the province in Math.

Crystal was an inspiring artists and had her drawings displayed for a year at The Arts and Culture Center in Newfoundland. Her hobbies were listed as bowling, skiing, swimming and volleyball, singing in the choir, and creative writing and drama were her passion. As an active member in the church youth group she strived to be able to travel to Third world Countries and help the less fortunate.

It’s incredible to see where life takes you if you just follow your heart. After passing on my crown in 2000, I went on to graduate with a BA in Intercultural Studies from Vanguard College, Edmonton AB.  During my studies, I had the amazing opportunity to travel and do missions throughout Asia and Africa. It is important to note here that it has been my passion to live and work overseas ever since I can remember. My primary school journals are filled with childhood dreams, stating, “when I grow up, I want to help people in other countries . . .”

Well, here I am “all grown up” and it’s exactly what I’m doing. 

I traveled to China during my first and second year of college, teaching English and participating in various missions activities.  “Life-changing” took on a whole new meaning to me.  I fell in love with the people, the culture – everything.  My dream of doing this for a lifetime was reconfirmed one-hundred times over.

During my third year of college, I traveled to the place that owns my heart – Africa.  I spent six months in Kitwe, Zambia teaching English at the Village of Hope Children’s Orphanage. Words can’t describe the pure joy of doing exactly what you know you were born to do.  Every day I had the incredible opportunity to pour into the lives of the children there, through classes in English, drama and music, and just by hanging out and living life together.  Those kids changed my life. Their stories are heart breaking, and the poverty unfathomable, but their hope is unwavering.

No story is complete without a little romance, so I feel it’s necessary to tell you that while in Africa the first time, I met Aaron – now, my husband of three years. He was going to school and doing in missions in Kitwe also, and well, long story short- we fell head over heels. :)  Currently we live just outside Seattle, WA and are working towards our dream of long-term missions. This past summer we returned to Zambia, taking along a group of high school students.  We took care of children in an orphanage, helped out in a clinic, and built relationships with the people there.  The best way I can describe the trip, is that it felt like going home.